Winter at Split Rock

Experience the North Shore winter with a stop at Split Rock Lighthouse.

The North Shore is known for high snowfall amounts, especially on the upper side of the North Shore Highway. Lake Superior does not generally start to ice over until mid to late January and ice often stays into April, so this makes for some spectacular scenery along the cross-country ski and snowshoe trails in Split Rock Lighthouse State Park.

There are snowshoe, cross-country ski, and some hiking trails that connect the historic site and the state park and continue along the shoreline and even up the Split Rock River gorge.

The historic buildings, including the lighthouse, are closed, but you can walk around the grounds and catch the magnificient view of the lake.

The Split Rock Lighthouse Visitor Center, with museum store, exhibits, film and rest rooms, is open Thursday - Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. all winter. The grounds of the light station are open until sunset.

During the winter, no historic site admission fee is charged but a state park vehicle permit is required.

The heated trail center in the state park is open all winter with running water and rest rooms and is a good place to picnic and gear up for skiing or snowshoeing. A state park vehicle permit is required. The vehicle permit and ski passes are available at the state park office.